eBay and three former top executives pay $55.7 million to settle stalking and harassment lawsuit

By Nate Raymond Reuters | July 28, 2026 | 3 min read

EBay and three former top executives have agreed to pay $55.7 million to resolve a lawsuit filed by a Massachusetts couple who were victims of a stalking and harassment campaign carried out by several eBay employees. The campaign was retaliation for the couple's coverage of the e-commerce company in their newsletter.

David and Ina Steiner announced the settlement late Monday, ending a case they filed in 2021 in Boston federal court. The lawsuit followed criminal prosecutions of former eBay employees who targeted the Steiners in a cyber-stalking campaign that included sending them cockroaches, fly larvae, and a bloody Halloween pig mask.

Settlement Details

As part of the agreement:

• EBay will pay $46.15 million to the couple.
• $6 million will be directed to charitable contributions to nonprofit organizations.
• The company will issue a "strongly-worded" statement regarding the conduct of three of its former top executives.

"We believe this resolution sends a clear message that corporations and their executives cannot engage in this type of misconduct without facing significant consequences," said Christopher Murphy, the Steiners' attorney, in a statement.

EBay issued its own statement, saying: "What happened to the Steiners was wrong, reprehensible and should never have happened. We continue to extend our deepest apologies to the Steiners. This agreement is consistent with our commitment to fairly compensate the Steiners and fulfills our efforts to make things right."

Background of the Case

Seven former eBay workers pleaded guilty and received prison sentences of up to 57 months for their roles in the scheme. The harassment included several employees traveling from California to Natick, Massachusetts, to surveil the Steiners and attempt to install a GPS tracking device on their car.

Prosecutors said the goal was to silence the couple after senior executives deemed their newsletter, EcommerceBytes, critical of the company. The campaign began after then-CEO Devin Wenig texted Steve Wymer, then eBay's chief communications officer, in August 2019, stating it was time to "take her down," referring to Ina Steiner.

EBay itself was criminally charged and agreed in 2024 to pay a $3 million fine.

Individual Settlements

• Devin Wenig, who stepped down as eBay's CEO in September 2019, was never charged. As part of the settlement, he will pay the Steiners $2 million and make a $1 million donation to a charity focused on protecting First Amendment rights, in Ina Steiner's name. His lawyers did not respond to a request for comment but have argued he had no knowledge of or involvement in the harassment campaign.
• Wendy Jones, former senior vice president of global operations, will pay the couple $500,000.
• Steve Wymer, former chief communications officer, will pay $50,000.

The Steiners' lawyers said additional settlements were reached with all other eBay employees named in the lawsuit.

Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Nick Zieminski